Reis and Jones Call for Legislative Hearing On Department of Agriculture’s Funding Cuts

April 10, 2008

Springfield, IL.…Representative David Reis and Senator John O. Jones are pushing back against Governor Blagojevich’s funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture by calling for a joint legislative hearing in Springfield. Representatives from the Department, 4-H Extension, Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), CFAR, and other effected groups will submit testimony on the funding cuts and their impact on the State’s agricultural community. Legislators will also seek answers to the ongoing State Fair Ground maintenance deficiencies.

“The administration has once again declared war on agriculture. They have tried unsuccessfully to eliminate tax exemptions in the past and now they just want to end funding altogether,” Reis said. “Senator Jones and I have called for this Joint Senate and House Agriculture legislative hearing to raise the awareness of these funding cuts and to find out why the administration has chosen to completely decimate one industry as opposed to spreading out the pain amongst all state programs.”

Last week Representative Reis, Senator Jones, and a group of bi-partisan legislators urged the Governor to release the remaining SWCD operational funds to prevent these offices from closing. This week the Governors office announced that $18 millions would not be released to fund the U of I Extension and county fair programs. The Extension serves an estimated 2.5 million residents each year, including nearly 300,000 youths who take part in 4-H programs and county fairs.

It was also recently discovered that CFAR, the states main manager of agricultural research projects, has not received one dime of its $3 million FY ’08 funding.

Senator John O. Jones continued, “Illinois is recognized as formidable leader in agriculture around the world. It is imperative for the Governor to take a serious look at the big picture when he threatens 100 % cuts to these important programs.”

The Governor has frozen over $40 million in fiscal 2008 appropriations to statewide agricultural program providers. Groups such as, the U of I Extension County Board Match, C-FAR, AgrAbility, Ag Leadership Foundation, AgriFIRST Grants and Partners for Conservation, remain on the verge of closure without receipt of any promised 2008 state dollars.

“We will not go down without a fight,” concluded Reis. “Holding back this funding, even for one year, might well mean the end of these programs. Someone has to stand up for agriculture.”

The joint legislative hearing will begin at 8:30 am on Wednesday April 15th at the state Capitol. Anyone seeking to offer written comments or testimony should contact Rep. Reis’ office at 618-392-0108 or Senator Jones at 618-242-9511